The Sun. — London, England, 1810-02-02 00:00:00

cE • 6 z l'ay be retained until the Go..Trnment hf s .heard 4 ) 1 the opinions for and against it A plan for its ' - fence is now 'copying - off, aid if I find the enemy likely to make any active moveinents of annoyance shall remain here, and will send a confidential Person with the Aan of defence, which is chiefly; naval to communicate' with your' LOrdship.• have the honour to be, &c. &c. Right. Hon. Lord 1%164;1 - aye, &c. R. ►7TRAGHAN. Lette r from. Sir IZ CHARD STRACHAN to Mr. Poca, dated off r ' Sept: St. D om in go, o liishirig, l3, inclosing a Proposition'for a Maritime Defence of the Island of Wal-- cheren, which says— " The:defence of the Llancl of. Walclieren must ,?e principally Ngval, and : when the description of 'oree which will be hereafter tianiifd is ready to a6i, and stationed in the poSii ion§ which will be assigned it, then J 2,000 men may be considered fully ade luate to the duty of the Isl a nd." ,Piere follows a Lyng description of the diffrent waters, `cations, accd • 1 Letter from Mr. CROKEit to Sir R:lClifitieD STR I ICI-IAN, dated tyt h ()farther, 18c9. SIR --4 am 'commanded by my Lords Commis s'oners of the Admiralty; to ,signify their direction toh you, to let the know, for their information, whe ther in the proposition of a maritime defence of the °pod of Walcheren, transmitted. with your letter ut the 13th of las't month, and the estimate you ma de, cf the foice necessary to secure that Island, Cu had i n „ contemplation any difference that may .Produced bar a Continental peace; and also. that ,Y()u state your opinion in what degree and kind the Laval force necessary to seal up the French force in e Scheldt, wou ld differ from that whiCh would be t es c l'Aired to watch that force, if we were not in pos , "siOn-Of Walcheren. I am, Sze. J. 'W. CROKER. Re ar -Admiral Sir R. I.: Strachan, Bart. :it t 5 rrori t Sirß. ST R ACII AN AO Mr: C R OX. E it, dated Lon tn. r don, .Oct. 20, . tBos , have had the honour of, receiving, your 1,`,„ 1 7 of' yesterday's date, signifying to me the di rzr,.'c'ns of my ..Lords Commissioners of the Admi. `..Y to let yo u know for their information whether ie lle proposition for a ,maritime defence of the t li a .nd of Walcheren, transmitted with my letter of 1 3th of last montli, and the estimate .I made of c, e „c're ri , :::(.-”,sarY 16 secure that island, Iliad In C' e mplation any difference that may be produced . Continental peace ; and also that I state my t t .%', /11611 in whit degree and kind the: naval force -ne -IvrY to 6,140 the French force in the SOheldt , diffe r from that which Would be required to \v l eb th at es if we were 'not in possession of alcher n , .--When the p .,- -ft'r lA ; lti reply, nave fo oh:erve, 4 re`ia You.have alludkt to was W ten, there was )11 . 8 ,`', 11 t 0 expect that hostilities would re : commeri?C (or " Continent,conceived W 41chet'ett !St siderabie importance with a View tutuie enter ("l2e. 4 , 8 ' the .Cotitinental peace basgteen - great in ase,,6fpower.to the enemy, the force necessary P 4 111:I the Scheldt must be in proportion to the 41.parations' the et;erny may snake with a view of s Waleherea, for to force the Bcbeldt, I ant refore of opinion th a t, independent of th e flotilla, Ir, c i i , u adr9o 'should. be in readiness hot inferior s} r i 4 at Which might be necessary intercept the 1 )0s 11 ' of the enemy, if Walcheren was not in our ss sion. I have, &c. W. Croke'', Esq. &c. for ote thA the R. J. STEACLIAN. l tt ‘ e 'r from Captain Cocxbeu, to Lord ;',1 . 0 dat ed Loudon,LoudonLoudon, Z9lll Octo;:er, 18:.,9. (Lxtra t LoRD- 1 1ri consequence of the conversation i';il,l-,‘rfich y our L or d s hi p honoured m e yesterday, he desire y our Lorpship then expressed : that I ,i nld state to you my opinion of 'the oossamli y t etainin possession of the Island of 'Wolcheren; a dvanr g agesvv'hich would result to us from it t :4 3ll ,, , ,, id eringit merely as a military station .; and d as to be retained) the force _necessary for its 1 - d ef ence ;" I have the honour 'to inform your ) ' r-sh il), that having considerd'all the circumst A re 11 1 . Pealt - Ig Its situation, I feel i no hesitation it as my decided opinion, a b ut Lt i t s in our t, to be , hut ns the enemy oft course.., i,,, it, s fr nn it l) and to N'' vtino-t (2iluos .to force ) 14t k 1-11 : S the ' possewill be necessary; t r' .l) a very considerable Military and Naval. foralt: t ttv ` i tll should recommend iis prote6ti o n.. The s pec i e s of _Naval for best, adapted for this 4 11 ( ,,, e e; is gun -boats and bomb-ships,;. I think there '14 ; , 41 be o f t h e latter, six, and of the former islt. fiveons, each division conSisting of fifteen, boats ; et these divisions with four of the bomb-ships,. p44.uln station from fer Nreerclose to the northern,. t °f St- Joostla n d • and three divisions of gun- 1 k t l : wi th two b om b s hi ps , I wou ld stat i on at the het of he East C a l ot l an d, exten di ng f rom c l ose to 111 ,,at i '4llpoint of St. Joostlarid, in front of the Ram- f j 4 si aud on towards Flushing. The Island o tt le . (which is within shell, range of the t 4(1 111 1 Y.S shore, and which would in this case ehX tlie - 1 1. ' 144 ° 11 e grand division of our forces to t h e 't( k i t ,,' should be sunk, by which means it would 'ier to without much expence, an impassable bar tie that part of the coast of Walcheren, and afford c , °ll neOed c h a i n of defence completely,out of reach (Without he should fairly, advance 'or the whole extent between Flushing and f ," Eastward, and with the ships that will , o to,ilne constantly at Flushing, and a small squa thereaf:lo kept on the Roompot, I do . not conceive hkt- any thing to fear on the western ; side. .* * * ae* * ' l ls i;ir e 4 of the mil '' y force necessary to keep 1 (1 4 ` 41 , I roust conf e ss my want of knowledge VitstLcQusary information, but as 'youi - Lord-hip Ie- I wouhl also give m y ck,ituon hereon, asfar -411:111,44 been to form any judgment on it, , I ' I think pooti men necessary for this ser ,,t, 'Ped „?," of whi c h s h ou ld b e stationed at Flush an advan ce f rom i t to Rrn amakins; 2000 146.1,d as or h a l ted on the eastern extremity of the kk ' bear to th e d y k es on the water-side as eet;,ll, placed ; 1000 s h oul d be di v id e d b e-, ° I th e V(2er and the south ern an d wes te rn po i nt qta ek b's'and (which-I c once i ve to b e S ecure d f rom .41 " 1- kircrl Y the ' position of our s hippi n g). I n Mid 7 and its environs, I would place the fe . "ili,a4 4000, as'froln its central Situation effethial . 4tiy P : r t nip_;lit be sent horn it With the least 3't o f ate Island seriously attacked, Bcc..&c. un la - ttlq een aeic go iu tho Lich FY' r ~i! ~t i ~~:. .3~ la tect roar' :r it it' IMII- ich i; a al6a ; ladc ing )'ea itti- Tile plc; le IS bip- land ..., . . . . . .•• .. . • , • • • ~ , •: `•' i ' • ~ ' • - • • - • - [here follow answers from,Sir Richard Strachan and Rear- y Tie . honourable testnnooy borne by your Lord.- Adinir4l Otway, to several Queries from the Admiralt} , re- ' .ship to the enter rid :di , cipline, and courage lative to-the nature of the Roadstead of Roompot, and other. . , neighbouring parts of the Scheldt.] „.. .. i winch has marked the •conducit of the troops in pre -- ~ . .. • . i .sence of the enemy,. has. ratlorded his Majesty the ... . (Secret.)--Extraft of a Letter from Lord ',iv ER kOUL to highest satisfACtion. Your LOrdship will be pleased General Dom. • ! to signify to Lieutenant 7 General fir tyreCoote, the Downing-street, gith Nov. t 809. - , .--. tye • deral and other Officers'employed on this. occasion SlR—Your dispatches of the 3d and 4th instant . under your Lordship's peisonal - command, as also have been received, and laid before the King. As , to the troops.in general,' the sense his Ma ti jest}' en the - determination to evacuate, the island of Wal- E. remains of their services, and the confidence' ' - a chererr has been taken, it cannot be necessary'for --..- ...•..t,'.. me to enter into any of the particulars stated in you jesty feels in their future good conduct.r , I fulfil with oreat personal satiStaCtiof . . , q. l. 4.l: k . •-,,,,,,- - • i n .t'' -:,* -dispatch ilio. 7, respecting the best means of pro- thus assigned me, of.,conveying to• T.Ur• r i . .„J, f ip. viding•for the permanent security of the island; in the. King's entire approba4on *of, the who e of case it had been thought expedient to. retain it. 1 your pro ceding's, in the execution of the : orders have great satisfaction .however in informing you, which 'your . Lordship has received 'from his Ma that the diligence and attention with :which you - . ;esti ,. / arn,. 6z .. c. have so early examined this part of the subject has i, / si tv , d) .. -, met with his Majesty's most- gracious approbation, ! To the Earl of jtiatharn, K G . ., ~ , ~, . Brc. &C. .-. 'IT kwo (Aer letters f w 0110 also ex pressiVe of his Majesty's • ' • --- . , approbation, patticularly ih regatd to the capture of Elulting] . , CAS'HAREiG,Ef. . (Most Secret.) ~ . . ! • • . . Dispatch from :Vise. CAs - i•LER. Er. GM to the Earl of CHAT- i Doti-street, t3th Nov. 18-9.. ! .14 A 141 dated ad ‘ Sep.teMber, 1809.: ; - .. .. SlR—Your dispatches, No. I 0 and 11, have been f. MY ' Loup ' -7--Yutir Lordship's dispatch cif the 29th received, and laid before the King . I am,now to ' ult. from Ritz has been _received and laid before the .: signify to you his, Majesty's. Command, that you 'Ring. Under the-Opinioll stated byeouy'l.,ordship ; evacuate the Island of Walcheren with the forces t in - that the ulterior Ojeets ot the expedition, so far as , der your command ; but lam at the same tillitt, to Telat ' es to operations againSt.iiittwerpand, the ene- inform you that it is the determination of his Ma- my's 'fleet ate no longer praeiicable, in which opi-: jesty, that previously to the evacuation you should . nion the tieuteteint-Generals of the army appear I take such measures as you may Judge Most 4TecOye unanimously to have concurred, 1. hate only to con- for the de , truction of the bacon of Flushing, and Of :vey to your Lordship the king's commit ds that, tie naval defences of the I , •larid. after providing, effectually for the ,securnyeof ,Wale You will adopt for this purpose the plan first, sulk-- 'cheren, you. di,) return with the remainder of the gested by Lieut.-Colonel Pilkington,, by .which the i island' will be exposed to' the consequenees of in army to England. I am to expres;, however, to your Lordshiphis undation in as small a degree as can be consistent ': Majesty' , s cat &den t 'perstta;on that, previous to your with the effeanat execution of the service. It is to , return, and in conformity . to your instruCtions, 'your be regretted that Col: Pilkington, in his Second report; i Lordship will cooperaie With the Navy in, giving did not ,explain with more particularity the means T ~. 'ef)ect to any measures Sir Richard trachan may , , .. bywhich he intended to conpuct tbisoperation.. 4 t , .think, 'fit to adopt (Or obstructing the na‘igation of does not appear whelher the suggestions. contained in e lle Scheldt, and that ybur Lordship will al,o Confer tfie report of Messrs. Rennie and Whitby . of de- . with that 'Officer Upon the pradicability of' destroy= strOying the sills of the floo4 atei and the jetties, ...' In g. any s ~.' and of obstr A t.,l6ting the channel into the basin, form a.. Ternettie, .should they be found of sufficient im part of hi 4 li . ran. To ,this operation, it, may proper, portance to justify the underta.king of operations therefore, that Colonel Pilkington'S attention should a , - .t ahem. -. I am, a kc. eains , be direaed. ,CASTLEREAGH. .. , C , , . As the greatestinaportance is attached tb a s ervice, , . . .... „,.... e _L ..„ ~ ..by which the re -est,sulisliment of 141ushing, as 3 Dit - ,•patch froiliViscohin CA sT t.v.k an'c it to the Earl of Chat. naVal statiOn, and depot of the enemy, may be most HAM, dated 2d. Sept. 1809. , effeetitally retarded, . and . obstruCtedef or the 'longest . MY LOab,--The orders transmitted for the return period, I liai'e felt it . my . cluty to - , bring, under your - of •the army to England with the exception of the consideration 'every suggestion, find •to 'ithird you fOr ce requ i,i te f ur t h e def ence , o f W a l c h eren; m:11,-..es e very assistance, whic'h would redder the operativn . itlteiirible t hat I should receive from your Lord s hip ~..... as complete as.possible. , . *IOC report- Upon' the State and defence of that I inclose a Pzter co:it aining the athount oft on- .Il. , iiia without toss of limo, for• the couslderaticioof nake NV hid) it 'Will be in the. pot.;er of the Trans- - his j.Vltiesty's - Mittitder , , a;so- - with tespeet . to the ,porn Co ira ,nii\v, tc ilrovide for the einOarkalion of air-inure of force that tiely be renusite to d . , -tend it, the troops, and of sores:l of all descriptitaiis. the and the expellee which it m cesi ay by ileary to I:,cur Ad l tiralty wilt I' trust, be, able, by means of ships fur covering the troths, and ietiail w 0 and improving of war, to ::atfor3 some accoinmodation to the the worts. healthy and effeotive part of the garrison. As the season' of the year - is so\ far advanced, I ! . .(Signed) . haVe nodoubt you will see the importance of 'mak- To the Earl of. Chatham, &c. ing every i neces , :ary•exertion to bring the service to a conclusion Within reasonable time.... . ' 1 have the liJnourtb be, &c. • . - : (Sinned) " LivE4ioor.. CASTLEIIEAGH. Dispatch from Viscount CAS ri. EREAG, H to Sir Ey a s Coo./ s, dates!sd .sept 1839. - • Sin—l have received your letter of the 31,t Ult. With it itiCigSUl:eS, I".(Vliriog addilional inedical as , si,taricelOr the boops in the Island of Walcheren, in cunsequetece whereof J. have ,desired the:Coni . , • . i wander in Chief to instruct the Medical Bearfito From ViscOunt,CA si 1. sR E...cx to the Earl of CnAT n Am. ! : send Out, without delay, the assistance you have re- Dispatch front Viscount CASTLEREAGH to the Earl of ‘ quircd, and also a sufficient quantity of . such medi cHATHAM, dated July to, 18 0 9;in c l os i tig th e following: ! . cities as may be beSt suited to retrfedy and counter- GEOiGE 11.-==-InstrUctiOns to our Right Trusty and : act the disorders there prevalent ; and I have also Well-beloved Cousin and' Councillor, John Earl of i desired the Commander in Chief to consider wLet Chatham, Knight of the most noble Order of the additional 'comforts may be necessary for the troops... Garter, Lieutenant-Generalhlour Forces'. Given ___, . I am - , liee. * CA - STLEREAGH. at our Court at St. James's; this 16th day of July, To Lieut.-Geu. Sir Eyre Come, K. B. 1809, in the 44i h year of our :reign. , . . . Whereas we have thought fit to appoint you t o Dispatch from Viscount CASTLEREAGH to the Earl of l have-directed to be assembled and transported to the ; My LORD—The painful and* indeed alarming ac- Scheldt, in order to attack ' and - destroy the na- : counts received of the progress oft he disease amongst val force and establishment; which. the enemy is; the troops under your cernmand, has created the so rapidly* aecUrmilating in that river, in the island . utmost anxiety in the minds s of his ee Majesty's Go of -Walcheren e and at Antw e rp. Y ou are , th e r e - • vernmen - Every arranger:lea has bees suggested fore, upon the receipt of those our instruaioils, to . for f th e re t ntlV:ll Of OW tck to Eng' ,and, and for th e repair-with Our said troops to the above destination, accommodation of those which are to remain, has and there to carry into effed the following orders, ' been ordered. , I cannot, however, avoid desiring in conjunEtion with the *C5i - iiri - i - a - mder of our naval Your Lordship will incl , ide, •in the Report' *called forces" who shalt Accompany you - in this Expedition... for:on the ',land of Walcheren„ such it - dor:nation You' will consider . that this -conjoint Expedition,. as may enable his Majesty's - Servants to judge of haStor its object the capture or destruCticn of the the general influence' to be appeelleaded trout the enemyls Alps, eitherbuilding at Antwerp or Flush- nature of. the climate upon. 'ttle ttoopse - equired for ing, er,afleat on the Scheldt ; the destruction of the its defence. I ant, *c.. arsenals and dock-yards at Antwerp, Terneuse, and. i (*tied) ' . - Fiti4hinge the reduaion of the island of Walche- i To the Eati vt . Chatham, B.x. , ren; and the renderinb-, if possible, the Scheldt no', ' . — . . • i'Vliddlebu!gh; Sept. it, 1 8 09 , . longer navigable for, ships of war. - f r • Sta—The communication I Ili% 4 4 been honoured the attainment of all the a b ov e-menti one d ob- ! with from Lieutenant-Gen: the Earl of Chat je6ts should be rendered impossible 'by the enemy I ham, is of so important a itatuee th.,t I roust beg colleding in such strength as to render persever-, l -leave to trouble his ,LOrdship with 'more deiailed ob atice do an any ordinary occasion. inconsistent with the security o f the army e you 1 setvations on the subject, than I should presume to and in that case to 'use your ut mos t e nde avours , i n , concert with The Officer commanding the naval i ' Indelieudent of the existing records of the up force, to secure as many of the objects as circuM- ! healthiness of . Zealand, every object around-us de stances will permit, and so soon as the service shall . piets.it in the must forcible manner ; fire bottom of be - completed, or such part thereof ss is attainable, every canal that has'communteation u 'Lilt the sea. is yoll Will take immediate measures for re-embarkiog thickly covered w itit an omv., which, whea the the armyeend returning with it to England, leaving : tide is out emits a most s offensi,e and eoisurne a sufficient force to maintain possession of the island effluvia ; every ditch is filled. with %%leer, which is of Waltheren till our further pleasure shall be signi- : leadedeveith atiinial and vegetable substairc-es in a lied: • - • -.-- ' sae of putretaetion ; and the -, whole island is so During your continuance on this service, you are - flat, and so near the level el the sea, that a large to send, or cause to be sent to us, through one or proportion of iris little better than a swamp, and our erincip &Secretaries of State, constant accounts there is scarcely a place where water of a tolerabli Of .all passes, and you ate to follow all such or- good quality can‘be procured. ders andedirettions: fiti we shall. send you, either un- i° The effect of all these causes of disease is strongly der sign manual, or, through one of our principal Se- _. cretaries of State. G. R. :1, marked in the apps arance of the inhabitants, the greater part of whom are pale and listless. Scro, phula is a very general complaint among them. The children are sickly, and many of the grown per Sous are deformed. - . . The endemic diseases of thii country, remittent 1 and intermittent fevers, begin to appear 'about the middle of August, and continue to prevail until the, commencement of frosty weather checks the' ex ha lations from the earth, gives tone to the debilitated fraMes of.the people, and stops thereby the-fur her progress of .the complaints. It is computed that nearly a third- of the inhabitants are attacked with fever every sickly season.. - .. • If individuals - twho have lived in this island from their infancy, who observe a ,dygree of cleanliness that can scarcdy be surpassed, and who live in spa cious apartmenis, cannot obviate the effects of the . - - Lie-ht.-Gen. Dori; &c. ..,--- - -. . . rAtl the othel' Letters in this Set, relate to the naval pte. paiutiOn;s Ter the evacuation of the Island.] cASTLEatAGH. Dispatch from ViScount CASTLEREACH to the Earl of CHATHAM ; dated Aug. 5, 1809. I'vl.yLoitn—l have' the satisfaction of acknow le6;ing the receipt of your Lordship's dispatches of the t2d and 3d instant, from Middleburg, whiCh were immediately submitted to the King. His Majesty has cotothandecrme to signify to your Lordship his, most gracious approbation of the promptitude with which you have conducted your operations against. the en. my. The rapidity with which possession has been ac qUirtd of the islands of South Beveland and \Vat cheren, «ith theexception of the fortress of Flush, ing, is the best proof of the zeal and energy with which the ulterior ohjets of the Expedition will be prosecuted. -r-- - • ;: f climate, it nay i - a`tmaiiy.bt,. con(1 .ded ;What:.a fa reignartny must stiffer "by /being exposed, in the first- instance, to excessive fatigue, and to the inele;- 4nency of the weather; and afterwards #y being crowded into barracks, where, under these ufan vourabie. cirCtinutances, the sudden transition must have produced.?, severe and. extended disease. The.healtb which the troops enjoyed during the aelilie operatic:ins, was. but a proof as I have already had the honour .tq stag io, his Lordship, that th e ppwers of body •atid when the,energies are called into aaiou, res,ist for a time .the causes of disease. The ft:tier whicil now unhappily prevails in, the army, first appeared among the battalions which were cantoned in South Bevelaud, and only began to demonstraie its influence here about the time, that Flushing 'surrendered to' his Majesty's 2rMs. • The rapidity with which the diSease has extended itself daring the short period that has elapsed siace t hat'. event .is almost th.exatup'.ed in the history of any military operations. As the. season has hitherto hitherto been a fatourab!e one (for hot and dry weather produces the most destrectiVe disease)., the cases have ,been slight, but r. very cons;deriible nutn•;• .ber of them have, notwithstanding, assumed amore, serious form, and have degeneroted into that,species - . of low .fever which oft , :nspreval.s l in gaols and other -. ill-ventilated places in England. , melancholy. Proof of this is found in' the loss • of• valuable lives that has alreitay heeh_ arid which I am concerned to state is nal diinhal,.:ll - Seventeen men died in the regimental ho.,pitals of this garrison•alone during the last 24 ;lours. As the progress of the mischief in the short pe riod of three weeks is much greater than could ra - + tionally have been calculated upon, and as s'carce4 a third part of the sickly season ha's elapsed; it is hardly possible to conjecture what loss may be in curred during the continuarce Of it. The causes which operate on 'the human flame are so powerful, and so generally applied, that all the precautions and preventatives which art can' invent,• though they may diminish, can, ne..er obviate their eftivls in any great degree; it must therefore be an inevirable . consequence of the>British troo s , s remaining in %Val. cheren, that a very considerable loss must 4e sues tamped. Alt hoqgh I have - trespassed so mach on his Lord. , ship's time, I beg leave to ad.l one remark, that 1 'humbly conceive of consequence, which is', that those . men who rn.y be attailed with fever, and recover from,=it, will have their constitutions so Affe'eted by the shock, that their physical powers, when called into action hereafter, will be very ma terially diminished. I have, &c (Signed) 1/ ~ f JOHN WEBB, Inspector of Hospitals. Lieut.-Col. C.t:y, Nlilitary - Sec. &e. • Disp4 . ich front 111 . of Ll'," P0o:. to Sir E Ira L Coors, Clittli 12E11 Oc[ober, leo9. SIR-I have received and laid before the King your .two letters of the th h instant, with.regard to the sick in the island of Walcheren. I have. writ ten to the 'Coinmanderin Chief with regard to send ing out the.heavy baggage for the regiments. lam happy to find that you have recurred to the employ, meat of the inhabitants whom you state to have en-; gaged to the , nurob..r of 400. lam also to 'approve of your having. appointed ten inhabitants to attend each regiment a order I am rather at - a loss for the complaint you make with regard to the Officers of the Barr:;ck Depart ment which have been sent out, not having autho rity to,or,ler repairs or additions necessary to rendl.tr the 'barr.teks habitable as I consider you possess sufficient authority to authorise the expenditure of such slims as you may judge necessary for (lie purpose,these Officers are acting under your orders, and not under the Commissioners for Barracks. lam, &c. LIVZRPOOL, FROM LIEUT.-GEN. SIR EYRE COOTE. Di.-ipatcli from Lieut.,-General Sir EYRE Coons to Viscount CASTLEREAGH. Mit.l(l4burgh, 31st August, 1809. MY LORD—I. bave'the honour to transmit to %our Lordship a letter addressed by the Inspe6tor of Hos pitals in this Island to me, applying in the most urgent manner for additional medical assissance ; and, I lament to say that the measure is rendered of the highest consequence, the sick of the army increasing daily to a most alarming degree. '1 have,the honour to be, (Signed) EYRE COOTE, Lieutenant-General. P S. I wo:::id strongly recommend that three or four large. nospittil ships should be forthwith se nt from England, sea air being found of great athan. tne in the. disorder wiih which' the troops are atteeted. To Viscount Castlereagh, Zee, Middleburgh, Aug. 3r, 1809. SIR-I do myself the honour of representing to you that the division of the army which are in South Beveland and in Walcheren become so extremely sickly, and the Medtcal.Otficers, both of the Regi, ments and the Staff; are - suffering so severely from theeffe6ts of the climate and the excessive duty they have to perform, that it is with the utmost difficulty we can have the sick of this island properly attend. ed to. A pressing requisition Was sent from Flush= iug yesterday for medical aid,. but it was not possi 7 ble.to comply v. ith it. Surgeon Lidderdale, who, is 'stationed there, was instructed, however, to make such arrangements as will enable him to carry. on thm service. for 4h6'present.withont injury to"the . men. I have this moment received a positive order from the Adjutant-Geneo!, desiring that one physician, one Staff-surgeon, aiid one• hospital-mate, should be.sent fOrthwith to South Beveland. It is.lwith concern I am obliged . tO. add, that .1 have but one medicif Officer (a Staff-surgeon) whom I can possi bly spare from this place, without leaving a portion of the sick unattended to. , Under these circumstances of great and evident difficulty, and with the certainty of our wants in creasing rapidly, arid our means of meeting them diminishing by the'sickness of tnedical officers, I beg to submit to your consideration the absolute necessity of sending express to England for medical aid; and of applying that a ta,t sailing vessel should be ap po)nted to bring out the assistance that is so urge:lily reciti;reci I have the honour to be, &c. JOHN W. 11138, Inspector of Hospitals. To Lieut.-Gen. Sir Eyre Ccote, K. B.